Economy Grew 4.6 Per Cent for July to September Quarter

Jamaica’s economy grew by an estimated 4.6 per cent during the July to September 2025 quarter, compared with the corresponding period in 2024.

The announcement was made by Director General at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, during a hybrid quarterly press briefing where the Institute provided preliminary estimates on the performance of the economy and poverty figures.

Dr. Henry said the estimated out-turn for the review quarter largely reflected recovery from the low production experienced in the similar quarter of 2024.

“The economy recorded relatively strong growth driven mainly by the industries that were most impacted by Hurricane Beryl that caused damage estimated at $56.7 billion in the corresponding quarter of 2024,” he explained.

The Director General noted that during the review period, both the goods producing and services industries recorded growth.

The goods producing industry is estimated to have expanded by 10 per cent, driven by increased output across all industries, while the services industry recorded estimated growth of three per cent.

“The Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry grew by 23.9 per cent based on the PIOJ’s production index reflecting the full recovery from the effects of Hurricane Beryl. This improved performance was evident in the performance of the other agricultural crops component, which was estimated to have expanded by 26.8 per cent,” Dr. Henry outlined.

Higher production was recorded for all nine crop groups, with the largest increases recorded for cereals up 76.5 per cent, condiments up 43.3 per cent, vegetables up 36.6 per cent, and fruits up 29.9 per cent.

Additionally, increased output was recorded for traditional export crops, which grew by 40.6 per cent, reflecting increases in the production of banana up 44.4 per cent, coffee up 162.4 per cent and sugar cane up 51.7 per cent.

Animal farming was estimated to have increased by 3.7 per cent due to the combined effect of higher poultry meat production of 7.2 per cent and lower egg production of 24.9 per cent.

Mining and quarrying grew by 3.8 per cent, reflecting higher output in the bauxite and alumina and quarrying sub-industries.

The manufacturing industry increased by an estimated 4.4 per cent due to higher output in the food beverages and tobacco and other manufacturing sub-industries, while the construction industry was estimated to have grown by 4.8 per cent reflecting estimated growth in both the building construction and other construction components of the industry.

Meanwhile, Dr. Henry outlined that the growth in the service industries was led by a 6.6 per cent increase in the electricity, water supply and waste management industry, reflecting higher electricity and water consumption stemming from the recovery from the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl in 2024.

“Electricity consumption grew by 8.1 per cent, reflecting higher consumption for all six categories… . Higher consumption was recorded in 12 of the 14 parishes led by Manchester up 16.1 per cent, Hanover up 13.7 per cent and St. Ann up 13.3 per cent,” the Director General outlined.

He noted, as well, that the transport and storage industry grew by 5.2 per cent relative to the corresponding quarter of 2024.

This was driven by an increase in the air transport subcomponent, reflecting a 5.6 per cent upturn in passenger movement and growth in maritime transport activities, reflecting a 12.6 per cent increase in total cargo handled.

Dr. Henry noted that in the review period, wholesale and retail trade expanded by 4.7 per cent.

“Higher sales were recorded for seven of the eight categories, including hardware, building supplies and electrical goods and machinery up 2.6 per cent; motor vehicles, auto repairs and accessories up 26.6 per cent; agriculture, food, beverages and tobacco up 7.4 per cent and wholesale of household goods and office equipment up 8.4 per cent” he detailed.

Dr. Henry noted that the accommodation and food service activities industry is estimated to have grown by 3.6 per cent.

“Preliminary data indicate that stopover arrivals for July and August 2025 was 535,643 visitors representing an increase of seven per cent,” the Director General said.

Meanwhile, he added that for the first nine months of 2025, Jamaica’s real gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated to have increased by 2.4 per cent.

“This reflected higher real value added of five per cent for the goods producing industry and 1.6 per cent for the services industry. The most significant drivers of this performance were agriculture, with forestry and fishing up 11.3 per cent; accommodation and food service activities up 2.9 per cent; and construction up 2.6 per cent,” the Director General reported.